The Meaning of Proverbs 15:17 Explained

Proverbs 15:17

KJV: Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.

YLT: Better is an allowance of green herbs and love there, Than a fatted ox, and hatred with it.

Darby: Better is a meal of herbs where love is, than a fatted ox and hatred therewith.

ASV: Better is a dinner of herbs, where love is, Than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Better  [is] a dinner  of herbs  where love  is, than a stalled  ox  and hatred  therewith. 

What does Proverbs 15:17 Mean?

Context Summary

Proverbs 15:1-17 - Kind Words And Glad Hearts
A soft answer; the tongue of the wise; a wholesome tongue; the lips of the wise; the prayer of the upright-these keywords touch one of the greatest departments of human influence. If we can rule our speech, or at least hand over our tongue and lips to the keeping of God's Spirit, what a world of trouble we should save ourselves and others! And God would keep watch over us and for us. See Proverbs 15:3, r.v.
Notice, also, the inducements to a right and holy life! Treasure in the house; answered prayer; the love of God; a cheerful heart; a contented mind-such are some of the by-products and experiences of those whose life is "hid with Christ in God." When we put first things in the first place, all else is added.
What a comfort it is that God searcheth our hearts and knoweth them altogether! Yes, and even when He chastens and corrects us, it is well. There is no bliss comparable to that of the forgiven sinner, who is called into "the secret place of the Most High." [source]

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 15

1  A gentle answer turns away wrath

What do the individual words in Proverbs 15:17 mean?

Better [is] a dinner of herbs and love is where Than a calf fatted and hatred with
ט֤וֹב אֲרֻחַ֣ת יָ֭רָק וְאַהֲבָה־ שָׁ֑ם מִשּׁ֥וֹר אָ֝ב֗וּס וְשִׂנְאָה־ בֽוֹ

ט֤וֹב  Better  [is] 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: טָבַב 
Sense: good, pleasant, agreeable.
אֲרֻחַ֣ת  a  dinner 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: אֲרֻחָה  
Sense: meal, allowance, ration.
יָ֭רָק  of  herbs 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: יָרָק  
Sense: herbs, herbage, vegetables, garden greens.
וְאַהֲבָה־  and  love  is 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אַהֲבָה 
Sense: love.
שָׁ֑ם  where 
Parse: Adverb
Root: שָׁם  
Sense: there, thither.
מִשּׁ֥וֹר  Than  a  calf 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֹׁור  
Sense: ox, bull, a head of cattle.
אָ֝ב֗וּס  fatted 
Parse: Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, masculine singular
Root: אָבַס  
Sense: to feed, fatten.
וְשִׂנְאָה־  and  hatred 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular
Root: שִׂנְאָה  
Sense: hating, hatred, hate.